03 April 2023 , 16:49
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Great Expectations viewers have said they “turned off” the BBC drama and have slammed the corporation for a shocking spanking scene that they claimed would "make Dickens turn in his grave".
The BBC ’s adaptation has received mixed reviews since it aired last night, with the next episode set to continue on Sunday at 9pm.
The drama includes scenes not included in the famous Charles Dickens novel.
Screenwriter Steven Knight, famed for Peaky Blinders, sexed up the celebrated story, nodding to topics he felt Dickens alluded to but couldn’t explore when he was writing in the 19 th century.
Steven said he tried to "imagine if Dickens was writing the story now and had the freedom to go to those darker places' and asked: 'What would he do?'"
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Mr Pumblechook was whipped by housewife-turned-dominatrix Mrs Gargery (BBC)The adaptation was criticised by fans for a spanking scene in which a naked Mr Pumblechook (Matt Berry) was whipped by housewife-turned-dominatrix Mrs Gargery (Hayley Squires).
In the scene, Mrs Gargery could be heard shouting: “Come upstairs now,” as she removed her wedding ring and grabbed a whip.
She asked: “Are you ready? You know what's coming, don't you? Turn around.”
She then struck the naked Mr Pumblechook ten times as he bent over her bed.
But viewers were left horrified by the scene, accusing the creators of straying too far from the book.
Taking to Twitter, one viewer penned: "I'm watching the new Great Expectations series starring Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham. I read the novel years ago, and don't remember Pip's older sister whipping a naked man."
She struck the naked Mr Pumblechook ten times as he bent over her bed (BBC)Another wrote: "We getting a bit of S&M (Sadomasochism) in #GreatExpectations? Yep, we are. Didn't expect that."
A third viewer said: "#GreatExpectations Mr Dickens would turn in his grave... what a complete load of rubbish... you should not b*****ise the classics... well not that badly! Turned off."
Other additions to the episode included a grown-up Pip, played by Fionn Whitehead, being set up by Miss Havisham to lose his virginity on his 18th birthday.
Olivia Coleman’s jilted spinster character told him in the episode: "On this the occasion of your 18th birthday… you must be proficient in all things. Horse riding, dancing, boxing, and sex."
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The teen was then presented to Mrs Gibbons, from the local congregation, as Miss Havisham said: "Feel free to behave any way you wish with Mrs Gibbons… have fun."
Another story embellishment that enraged viewers was Miss Havisham being portrayed as an “opium addict”.
The character is seen frequently inhaling from a pipe in the drama, but Dickens’ book contains no evidence that she smoked opium.
Great Expectations continues next Sunday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.